Saturday, February 28, 2009

Jim here. Seems JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE has more than 3 dimensions as it plays first place at the box office quite well with a $4.8 million opening Friday. The strong start sets the stage for a $20m + weekend for the 'tween concert movie.

Sure, it is not matching the love affair 'tweens has with Hannah Montana last year, but hey - first place is first place. Great to have a 3D movie sitting in the drivers seat!

CORALINE dropped to $1.1 million Friday, but still made the top ten - hard to see that tough hit to it's bottom line by losing all those 3D screens. Still, CORALINE's presence is being felt.

Jim here. THR is reporting that Top Cow Comic's APHRODITE IX will become a 3D movie. Threshold Entertainment, Top Cow Productions and Platinum Studios are mixing their magic to bring the cyborg assassin to the big screen. The main character achieves the human condition of self-awareness and strives to understand where she came from.

Larry Kasanoff of Threshold and Scott Mitchell of Platinum are producing. Said Kasanoff: "This is just the kind of franchise we love: a visually stunning world, amazing effects, a great story and a hot, kick-ass babe in the lead. What could be better?"

From THR: A similar prescription paid off handsomely last year with Universal's "Wanted," starring Angelina Jolie. Top Cow spun Mark Millar and JG Jones' comic into a franchise, grossing $339 million worldwide.

From MTV Movies Blog: The series, drawn by big-name artist David Finch and written by WITCHBLADE and THE DARKNESS co-creator David Wohl, follows an elite android assassin whose memory is wiped at the end of every mission.

I have to say this sounds like a winner. WANTED would have been spectacular in 3D, so I see where they are going with this!

I can't help but think that there are a lot of elements here that James Cameron would be thinking of using for BATTLE ANGEL. It will be interesting to compare these projects!

Friday, February 27, 2009

I understand that you are now able to discuss two new movies that you are attached to namely NEW MOON and HORRORWEEN. What roles have you signed on for?BLR: Can't talk about NEW MOON. So sorry! As far as HORRORWEEN goes, I play the lead's daughter (Nancy Spielberg). It looks like a good role, and a great cast! A lot of my friends are on it, so I know we'll have a blast.

MarketSaw: There must be something you can tell us about NEW MOON that will excite the fans, yet keep you safe - and that thing would be...BLR: Sorry!

MarketSaw: What friends do you have on the HORRORWEEN cast?BLR: Chuck Lamb, Joe Estevez, Jenna Jameson, Cindy Morgan, Tom Savini, Alice Cooper, Debbie Rochon, Lloyd Kaufman (one of my best friends, for real), Chuck Williams, and I am trying to get my friend Gina Lynn on it too, but I don't know yet. Yeah I kissed her in a bathroom... some of you may have seen the pictures?

MarketSaw: Well, you certainly are busy lately! With HORRORWEEN, this is a stereoscopic 3D project - is that part of the attraction of the part?BLR: Not really. I really just love working with my friends. A lot of the cast are people I hang out with in every day life. We go see movies together, I go jogging with Chuck Williams, I know we'll have a blast on set. Everyone knows everyone. I bet we'll be filming and Mina (Savaria) will call me and i'll just be like oh I can't go surf today we're in the valley filming, why don't you come out for a bit, and she will.

MarketSaw: HORRORWEEN is a very fun movie - what would you like your fans to know about it?BLR: That it's fun. But that's sorta like ordering a cheeseburger with cheese isn't it.

MarketSaw: How would you sum up the movie though - what sort of movie should your fans look forward to?BLR: A fun one. With cheese on the side.

MarketSaw: Much has been said about your private life and quite frankly I don't care too much about knowing about anyone's private life other than my own - BUT, some people have asked: Have you ever had a "more than friends" relationship with Ed Norton?BLR: A real lady doesn't kiss and tell (unless she kisses Gina Lynn). I doubt my fans care who I have off-screen relationships with. The only man that I kiss and tell is Peter (PJ).

MarketSaw: And just for the record, it seems you have a very nice ring on your left ring finger in recent photos - are you engaged? And to finally clear things up - to whom?BLR: I wear it because I get hassled for dates less. Every film I do there is some actor that feels the need to come hit on me. It's just easier to wear a diamond ring.

MarketSaw: Back to your career: Personally, I think these two movies are perfect vehicles for you. Where do you see your roles evolving from here?BLR: I am in talks with the producer of THE BIRDS (remake) and I talked to the producer about shooting it in 3D, but I don't really know any more about it. I like taking roles and working with directors that challenge me. I want to play roles where girls are powerful, and really stand out.

MarketSaw: THE BIRDS! - I am very interested in the remake! It is rumored that George Clooney and Naomi Watts are attached as well - is that true? Which producer are you dealing with, Michael Bay, Peter Guber, Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller or Cathy Shulman?BLR: Bay and Fuller. Wow you are smart! I think Clooney and Watts are in it. Should be fun, I hear from the producers that Clooney is a prankster, and well... so am I, so it could be fun.

MarketSaw: Have you seen any of the recent 3D movies that are coming out - MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D perhaps? What did you think?BLR: I haven't seen MBV3D yet, but some of my friends are in it. I work in Pittsburgh a lot, and it was shot there. I was on a film THE ROAD at the time, so I couldn't do it.

MarketSaw: MBV3D was AWESOME. They did a heckuva job keeping the 3D under control and using it sparingly but effectively. Loved it. It worked. Where do you call home by the way?BLR: Canton, Ohio... I totally live in an old people neighborhood. Everyone I meet is like "oh, my grandma lives by you" and I am just like "of course she does".

MarketSaw: Those seem like interesting movies from what I have read. What's your favorite 3D movie of all time?BLR: I've never seen one (I'm totally going to get harsh comments from that one, I know). But I tell you what... I'll go see MBV3D tomorrow and then I will tell you what I thought, and... if anyone was going to remake an old film and do it 3D now, I would love to see Jaws or Vanishing point.

MarketSaw: My first 3D movie was Jaws 3D back in the horrible anaglyph days (red and blue cardboard glasses) so I know what you mean - nice call.BLR: I wanna watch Vanishing point in 3D so bad! Is there a way that someone can take all those sweet drive-in movies (ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES and WIZARD OF OZ too) and make them into 3D now? Can one of your readers do that for me? I'll make them an apple pie!

MarketSaw: You never know! We have some readers that do 2D to 3D conversions in post, absolutely.BLR: Just joking, but if someone does that for me I would be super happy.

MarketSaw: Is there anything outside of mainstream movies that you are involved in?BLR: I am the President of The Mall Walkers Association of America, and my most current project is a documentary we're shooting in the Philippines where myself and 4 engineers are building fresh water wells in some schools over there. The idea is that the kids have to go sit in class for a full day and then they can bring 2 gallons of water home with them at night. This is because the parents were having the kid walk up into the mountains to get water, and they would miss school. Now we give them both.

MarketSaw: Wow. That sounds like an awesome project! Good luck with that. And I understand about not wanting to answer any questions about family (David Lee Roth and Avy Roth - they are trying to keep their lives as separate as possible). Thanks for the interview!BLR: You're welcome! Anytime.

Thanks again Brenna! You can see that she is a really cool person who just happens to have an accelerating career in the right direction. I am looking forward to seeing these movies - and hey, THE BIRDS in 3D? If they can do the Hitchcock thriller justice - awesome!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

San Diego, Calif., February 25, 2009 -- iZ3D Inc., designer, developer and pioneer of advanced stereoscopic 3D visualization systems, is pleased to announce a new addition to its trophy chest. Readers and followers of the popular gaming website Gameindustry.com honored the 22-inch 3D monitor display system by naming it the “2008 Game of the Year - Best Peripheral.”“If 2009 becomes the year of the 3D game, it will be because of the gains made by companies like iZ3D in 2008. The 22-inch 3D LCD was the first real mass-produced LCD monitor that let games literally take their favorite titles into the next dimension. Today the prices on these amazing monitors are falling rapidly, so the final barrier to widespread acceptance of 3D could soon be crossed,” commented John Breeden, Editor in Chief of Game Industry News.

“As a pioneer in the development of 3D drivers and hardware for stereoscopic 3D, 2008 marked another milestone in our pursuit of bringing 3D to the consumer market. More off the shelf 3D games, 3D TV broadcasts and thirty-two 3D movies are slated to be distributed in 2009,” stated Thomas Striegler, CEO of iZ3D Inc. ”3D as a viable delivery medium is here to stay,” he added.

iZ3D’s 3D gaming display products are among the first 3D displays being offered nationwide in brick and mortar stores. In addition, the iZ3D monitors are available online at Staples Online, NewEgg, Amazon, Critical Buy, and other e-tailers. Consumers can easily find a listing of store locations and get information on iZ3D’s products and special offers at www.3drulez.com.

In recent months iZ3D has made headlines as it introduced the first 3D monitors with custom painted designs from Smooth Creations®, released its new industry-standard-setting 3D display driver, announced channel distribution partnerships with Ingram Micro and D&H Distributing Company, made 3D monitors significantly more affordable, and announced a partnership with AMD which included an ATI 3DLP driver and $50 rebate offer for ATI Radeon™ graphics card customers.

Availability and Pricing

The iZ3D 22-inch monitor has a new manufacturer’s suggested resale price of $399.00 and is currently available at Fry’s and Micro Centers as well as online stores including www.staples.com, www.newegg.com, www.amazon.com, www.pcmall.com, www.criticalbuy.com, www.iz3d.com, and other online shopping sites.

This is awesome news! I personally use this monitor at home and I can say without a doubt that it is the best 3D monitor I have seen yet. You can use for everyday 2D use as well!

Jim here. We last saw Eric Brevig's work with JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH ($230m worldwide box office) - which I thought was very well done in 3D. Now comes word from Reuters that he is set to direct the Warner Bros. adaptation of old Hanna Barbera cartoon Yogi Bear entitled YOGI.

Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia are penning the screenplay of the much revered cartoon that many of us grew up on. They are setting out to recapture the magic of Yogi Bear, his pal Boo Boo and their adventures in Jellystone Park.

Word has it that Brevig will combine live action with CG to create an ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS type environment.

Personally I would like to see a pure stereoscopic 3D animation with this vehicle but hey, I could be off base I suppose! Can't wait for this one; lots of childhood memories.

Jim here. NOW it is making sense. A while ago I reported that Sony will be introducing a new 4K projector with a 3D adaptor and I was puzzled over the very late entry into the field - a field where there is already a clear winner in the 3D add-on realm, RealD.

Today, THR is reporting that Sony has in fact teamed up with RealD to deliver a built in 3D 4K projection system - one that is compatible with other Sony 4K resolution projectors.

It is not known whether Sony has solved the issue of being limited to screen sizes of 55 feet or less - perhaps that is why Sony has partnered with RealD, as the Beverly Hills based 3D company has solved the riddle of larger screens with their XL technology.

Originally Sony had targeted a March 2009 release of the solution.

A large competitor of Sony's in this arena will be Christie (along with Barco and NEC), who also recently announced their Brilliant3D technology that coincidentally (or more likely not) also uses RealD. In this case, they in fact use the RealD XL technology to facilitate projection on screens of up to 75 feet. Christie's 3D solution is however, limited to only 2K resolution.

This is great clarification for me. I feel much better about the progression of the 3D projection industry with this knowledge in place! Great job guys.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Jim here. I am disgusted at the current scenario facing theater owners. Currently their 3D investment is paying off with CORALINE hauling in $11,432,124 over the past weekend - a whopping $8.8m of it generated through 3D screens. In fact, 74% of all of CORALINE's gross has been 3D!

Now take that away. Yes, that's right. The second highest grossing movie of the weekend is going to be losing about half of its theaters (and supposedly 74% of its future earnings) in favor of bringing in a limited time engagement of JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE. Disney says it will only be one week - but we all know what happened last year with the 3D Hannah Montana concert - it stayed, and stayed. Sure CORALINE will gain back some 2D screens probably, but that is not the point.

What I want to stress here are two items:1. I am NOT anti-JONAS BROTHERS. To the contrary, their concert is going to kick some serious butt because they used top notch 3D technology to get it done. I will be going to check it out.2. The 3D screen conversions are taking FAR TOO LONG. Credit crunch or not, there is such a thing as financial wisdom and clearly the movie industry is in for a great year this year and it is most likely recession fueled. Yet there is no money around to be used for making more money? Strange indeed. Perhaps Mark Cuban can kick start things with a rapid rollout of 3D for the Carmike chain if he can brandish his new power there (at last look, he had 9.4% ownership)

Anyway, as Neil Gaiman lamented last week if you have not seen CORALINE in 3D yet - which is by far the better way of seeing it - then get your butt to your local 3D theater pronto. You have until Friday - JONAS BROTHERS takes over then.

Some theaters could actually split screen time between them but there is no guarantee of this happening at all. I am saddened that the 3D screens are being treated like two kids fighting over a game controller. Enough of this idiotic dragging of heels for 3D screen deployment. Get it done - money is being thrown away.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Los Angeles and London (February 23, 2009) – Vue Entertainment, the UK’s leading developer and operator of state-of-the-art multiplex cinemas, and RealD, the world’s leading outfitter of 3D-enabled theatres, announced today that Vue Entertainment will add 200 RealD 3D screens to its circuit.

The rollout of RealD 3D-enabled screens has already begun with an installation at Vue’s flagship location in Leicester Square. Additional RealD systems are ready for installation immediately as new screens are added monthly at Vue cinemas.

“Vue prides itself on providing the most compelling cinema experience available and RealD 3D will give our audience a new and exciting way to experience movies,” said Tim Richards, CEO of Vue Entertainment. “RealD 3D is the market-leading choice for its remarkable track record of providing a superior viewing experience, something we can’t wait to bring to our many locations across the UK.”

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Vue to bring tens of millions of moviegoers the unmatched RealD 3D experience,” said Michael V. Lewis, chairman and CEO of RealD. “This alliance with the UK’s leading exhibitor furthers RealD as the market-leader in the UK and is a reflection of our continued expansion across Europe.”

RealD’s next-generation 3D technology is deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform in 34 countries with over 1,700 screens today and an additional nearly 6,000 screens under contract. Bob Mayson, RealD Europe Ltd. managing director and head of the company’s recently opened European headquarters, added, “With a packed slate of upcoming films being released in RealD 3D, we’re delighted to be working with Vue Entertainment to bring this global entertainment phenomenon to their circuit.”

Vue has 62 cinemas with 607 screens and 134,413 seats which attract over 32 million customers a year. The company is the largest operator of modern multiplex cinemas in the country. It is also the market leader in the critical London market and has the second largest market share in terms of box office in the UK.

About RealD

RealD is the global leader in 3D, bringing the most advanced and enjoyable digital 3D experience to cinemas worldwide. RealD’s next-generation technology provides a stunningly realistic viewing experience. Beyond cinema, RealD is the worldwide inventor and provider of key stereoscopic technologies used in science, manufacturing, marketing, and other industries, with thirty years of scientific development behind its systems. RealD’s mission-critical 3D technologies are used by organizations such as NASA, Pfizer, BMW, Boeing and more. www.RealD.com

Hey guys - Jim here. I wanted to introduce a new blog to you that I have been invited to contribute to called THE WRAP. You may have heard of it already as it is quite a widely read Hollywood focused blog that pulls no punches.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Jim here. I pulled AVATAR images that were posted today because - well, because they aren't AVATAR images. Tough luck for my reader who sent them in to me as the originating site had them listed as AVATAR and also 20th Century Fox copyright. They are not.

In keeping with providing the best AVATAR coverage possible I pulled these immediately. However cool they looked. In fact, it is similar technology that is being used on AVATAR, but not worth the confusion of keeping them up.

Jim here. Well it is true. Neil Gaiman updated his fans via Twitter that this is the last weekend for audiences to see CORALINE in 3D theaters in the US.

His tweet verbatim: "For the USA, this is your last chance 3D Coraline Weekend. On Friday week The Jonas Bros 3D take the 3D screens. You Have Been Warned."

Good advice. If you have not seen CORALINE yet in 3D - what are you waiting for? Time is ticking on the stop motion picture because there are only so many 3D screens to go around and we all know that Disney gets SERIOUS this time of year. Remember HANNAH MONTANA hanging on to those 3D screens last year and keeping U2 3D out in the cold?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Jim here. Darkoo - an avid AVATAR fan and MarketSaw enthusiast (thanks!) dropped some more background for us to digest. Nothing of extreme importance, but nice to hear some stories associated with the project:

1. AVATAR Score: James Horner - Forces Of Geek have a nice post by Tommy Pearson about Hollywood film composers and naturally James Horner is talked about. Here is an excerpt pertaining to AVATAR...

"He's worked with Cameron before, of course, most notably on Aliens and Titanic, which won Horner two Oscars. They were fairly traditional orchestral scores but Avatar will have a different approach, employing all sorts of exotic electronic sounds and soundscapes mixed with orchestra - sounds that would be impossible to replicate on a piano. So Horner finds himself working with mock-ups to enable Cameron to hear properly what the score will sound like. When I talked to him about it, there was an air of excitement about doing something new, but also a whiff of apprehension. We'll hear the results at the end of 2009."

2. Sidebar has an audio interview with Neville Page who of course worked on AVATAR. Neville was very coy with the interviewers, if fact to the point where he was putting together sentences after reading them in his mind first! Kind of disjointed, but who can blame him? I certainly can't. Anyway, an interesting listen - especially in the last 1/4 of it where they talk about AVATAR. Love the part where Cameron shows him the ORIGINAL concept drawings of ALIENS and THE ABYSS. Here is the MP3.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Jim here. Well I have to say I heard nothing of this production until one of their digital artists, David Maldonaldo from Snoot Entertainment contacted me directly today.

Lionsgate will be distributing May 1. Again, I am stunned I had not heard of this movie before today. It has an excellent voice cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Brian Cox, James Garner, Chris Evans, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet, David Cross, Justin Long, Luke Wilson and Dennis Quaid.

Here is what David had to say:"The first trailer has debuted online - and will be shown in 3D in front of JONAS BROTHERS 3D and MONSTERS VS ALIENS 3D.

We are quite proud of the movie, ...the 3D will be a wonder to look at, i promise you..."

So... without further adieu, take a look at BATTLE FOR TERRA:

It looks like an impressive effort - and the storyline looks intriguing. I am definitely down for seeing it! On of my readers commented that it looks to be influenced by AVATAR with the flying creatures, etc - could be, could be.

Jim here. Seems Microsoft might be getting into the 3D business! Recently, Microsoft has been rumored to be looking at an Israeli company, 3DV Systems for a reported $35 million. 3DV has a product called ZCam that traces your body's movement in front of 3D cameras - without the need of using gadgets like a Wii controller. It measures speed and depth of motion.

So a motion control system for gaming that does not require you to hold anything.

It is not that hard to imagine a potential pairing of this with stereoscopic 3D gaming and presto! Integration with the XBOX 360? A new paradigm for the next XBOX platform? Could be!

As far as I am concerned, this has got nothing but upside associated with it. Love the XBOX but it really does need to have a 3D element integrated soon. LEFT 4 DEAD in 3D on the XBOX? Heck yeah.

Michael here - Over the last few days I heard from a couple sources that James Cameron has been reviewing (and summarily rejecting) teaser after potential teaser for Avatar. One mentioned that Fox has delivered six potential trailers, all of which were turned down.

So, when will we see the first teaser? Let us review some of the possibilities...

Monsters Vs. Aliens

Other than Cameron himself, Jeffrey Katzenberg has been perhaps the most ardent evangelist for 3-D. Not only will Monsters Vs. Aliens be a big event in itself, but I can see Cameron placing the first Avatar footage in front of Katzenberg's film as a way of paying respect to the work Katzenberg has done for the 3-D cause. Also, MvA releases only 4 days before ShoWest. I would expect that if Cameron is planning on showing something in Vegas, then he would rather have the first public glimpse be an official 3-D teaser in front of MvA, rather than blurry 2-D spy footage leaked to the internet from Showest.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

If we don't see the teaser in front of MvA, then Wolverine is the next likely possibility. I'm sure Fox would love the extra business that the Avatar teaser would bring. Also, releasing at this point would also get the trailer in front of Star Trek and Terminator: Salvation, both of which star Avatar actors and are sure to draw huge crowds. However, would Cameron want the public's first impression of Avatar to be 2-D?

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

A 2-D trailer could release in front of Transformers 2 on June 24. There's a good chance Transformers 2 will be the biggest film of the summer, so it would be a wise place to show off the biggest film of the year.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Releasing a week after Transformers 2, this is Fox's first 3-D film, and I'm sure they will want to use it to promote Avatar. Almost as sure a bet as you could make.

When do you think we will see the first Avatar trailer? Share your thoughts below!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Jim here. According to Box Office Mojo, CORALINE is proving to have some legs.

Estimates for today actually have the movie increasing it's take ($5,600,000) compared to the first week's Sunday business ($5,216,545) last week. That's pretty rare and underscores a couple of things: First, word-of-mouth is awesome for CORALINE. Secondly, well made 3D movies have a longer shelf life than standard 2D as there are fewer 3D screens and if demand is high, the interest remains for audiences.

Opening weekend for CORALINE had her making $16,849,640 while this weekend has her on pace for a $15,323,000 haul. That is only a drop of 9.1% week over week!

If you haven't seen the movie yet- - do yourself a favor and see it because you will not be able to enjoy it at home in modern 3D for quite some time. Even when you do, the bigger the screen the better.CORALINE is an experience you need to immerse yourself into! 3D is really the only way to see this one.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Jim here. Here are some quick updates for what is happening in the world of 3D:

- Get ready for NBA All-Star Saturday Night: With PACE providing the 3D technology and services, look for tomorrow night's NBA specialty events to have another thrilling participant - YOU. There will be five 3D cameras with two directors working as a team - one directing the best shots and the other concerned about 3D. Look for the events (including the slam dunk contest and 3 point shooting) on TNT and in 3D theaters near you. Will have an update for you this weekend!

- OCEANS 3D: INTO THE DEEP: the first feature-length docu-fiction film shot entirely in Digital 3D, is a tribute to the ocean. This movie is presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau (Yes - Jacques' son, but has earned fame in his own right), so expect the best content you can imagine. The film will leave audiences in awe of the beauty and diversity of the oceans - the source of all life on our planet - and inspire an even stronger desire to protect what they have either seen for the first time or re-discovered. OCEANS 3D remains slated for release in 2009. The official launch date is still to be determined. Wild Bunch has acquired the film rights for all territories excluding Canada and USA.

- UNDER THE SEA 3D Opens Tonight:Not feature length and only 40 minutes (and that is why it is not listed on my List Of Upcoming 3D Movies) but still very entertaining. This IMAX documentary's journey starts at the Coral Triangle in Papua New Guinea, then Cape Catastrophe in South Australia and finally, where else but the Great Barrier Reef! I will be checking this out.

I have said this before: Stereoscopic 3D works WONDERFULLY WELL underwater. It is because there are things you expect to be floating in front of you and 3D captures that very well. It will seem like you are really there, underwater with those divers.Enjoy!

Today, I went to a movie with my boyfriend. In the lobby, I asked why the glasses were not working. I said, "Do they only work inside the theater?" My boyfriend replied, "3-D glasses just work inside the movie, everything else in the World is pretty much 3-D." FML

"Mattel’s “Avatar” toy line will feature heroes, creatures and vehicles straight from the blockbuster film. Each action figure or vehicle will come with a 3D web tag, bringing a new level of interactivity to Mattel’s newest action play line. Utilizing a computer’s webcam, consumers can “scan” the web tag, unlocking special content unique to the product, like bio information on action figures and creatures, virtually on a home computer."

"Avatar is one of the biggest and most anticipated films of 2009", said Dekel. "The new universe created in the film is everything one would expect coming from the mind of James Cameron, one of the most accomplished creators and filmmakers of our time. In bringing this fantastic new universe to life in toys, it was essential that we partner with the world's biggest and best, Mattel. Mattel's abilities to continually innovate and strategically grow a toy brand over many years will be core to our long-term strategies."

“Mattel has a long history of teaming up with some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, and it continues with our partnership with ‘Avatar,’” said Tim Kilpin, GM for Boys, Girls & Games, Mattel, Inc. “Developing toys for a movie as anticipated and innovative as ‘Avatar’ allows us to push the envelope with our own innovation and design to produce an exciting, engaging lineup of products.”

Jon Landau, producer of Avatar added, “I’m a firm believer that a great toy program, done right and with the right creative collaboration can extend the movie experience. Jim and I have been working intimately with both Fox L&M and Mattel to ensure that this will be a top-notch innovative toy line-up. We have seen the products and can’t wait for their release.”

More than 10 years in the making, “Avatar” marks Cameron's return to feature directing since helming 1997's “Titanic,” the highest grossing film of all time and winner of eleven Oscars® including Best Picture. “Avatar” is an epic adventure film where ex-marine Jake Sully is torn between duty and honor when he finds himself caught in a battle between the heavily armed forces of Earth’s most powerful star-faring consortium and an exotic, noble alien race whose entire world is threatened by the human invaders.

The “Avatar” cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver. Academy Award-winning visual effects house, WETA Digital, renowned for its work in “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy and “King Kong,” will incorporate new intuitive CGI technologies to transform the environments and characters into photorealistic 3D imagery that will transport the audience into the alien world rich with imaginative vistas, creatures and characters."

Can you feel it? AVATAR is inching closer to reality folks. These are going to be some awesome collectables available soon.

Jim here. Production Weekly has reported that Alex Winter (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure) is now attached to a reboot of the original 1987 movie THE GATE.

We are fairly certain that it will also be shot in stereoscopic 3D - so all you 2D and 3D fans out there: "Be excellent to each other"!

Randall William Cook was originally thought to be helming the horror film (he actually looked after the FX for the first movie as well as FRIGHT NIGHT *which I loved* and GHOSTBUSTERS).

But word is Cook backed out when the producers wouldn't give him the power to change the script.

Also the movie may go by the working title of THE GATE: 20 YEARS LATER.

I think Winter would give us a refreshing view into this remake - and hopefully the words of the immortal Bill S. Preston, Esq do NOT hold true: "We are destined to flunk most egregiously". I am looking forward to hearing more about this project!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Alonso talks about the liberating feeling of shooting scenes in front of 197 cameras simultaneously, and reveals that he was still filming as of the date of the interview. He also discusses his own background, and offers his advice to those who wish to pursue their dreams in Hollywood.

Jim here - thanks Scumfrog for pointing this out to me: During a recent interview with my friend "El Guapo" over at LatinoReview, Michael Lewis, CEO of RealD said that he has seen some footage of James Cameron's AVATAR and...

"I think that every director is kind of putting their personal imprint on what we're seeing. Henry Selick, here tonight, this picture is incredible. It's got a juxtaposition of technology and stop motion with 21st century technology RealD. So that's really cool, it's real and lifelike. Cameron is designing synthetic worlds to take people into a place, 26th century environments and you just can't beat it."

Well that is news to most people I would imagine - the original scriptment had AVATAR being set 100 years in the future. I would say - get ready for some wild futuristic material! Can you imagine trying to fathom what technology would be in use today from the year 1509? If Cameron has pulled that off - amazing!

Perhaps Mr. Lewis was in error with that, I don't know. But wow, if it is true... :-) Be sure to read the whole interview at LatinoReview.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Jim here. Disney just released their latest promo materials for the upcoming 3D concert and it looks to be very well done visually.

It's cool to note that Vince Pace is the executive producer on this film as he obviously brings a lot of live action 3D expertise to the table with credits from AVATAR, U2 3D, JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS and HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT. As a rule when he is attached, you can expect superior stereoscopic results.

I will be the first to admit I know nothing of their music, but if it is anything remotely like U2 3D, then I will check it out. The experience was amazing.

Here is the songlist that the brothers, Demi Lovato or Taylor Swift will be performing: “Lovebug”, “Tonight”, “Love’s Journey”, “That’s Just The Way We Roll”, “Hold On”, “BB Good”, “Still In Love With You”, “Goodnight And Goodbye”, “Video Girl”, “Gotta Find You”, “This Is Me”, “Play My Music”, “Hello Beautiful”, “S.O.S.”, “Pushin’ Me Away”, “Should’ve Said No”, “Love Is On Its Way”, “Live To Party”, “Burnin’ Up” and “Shelf”.

Take a look at that Fusion 3-D Camera Rig suspended over the stage in the last photo - awesome or what? A thing of beauty.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Jim here. Saw CORALINE last night as I know a couple of others have judging from the comments on the last post. And wow. What a movie.

First of all, I saw some 3D trailers before the show: ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS, Pixar's UP and MONSTERS VS. ALIENS were all teed up. First time for me seeing the UP trailer in 3D. They all look great of course - all of them are must sees.

Then on to CORALINE. I must say it was very tastfully done. The opening credits reminded me that this movie was all handcrafted and done with extreme attention to detail. It is amazing what Henry Selick is capable of. Astounding really.

It is such a refreshing movie from so many angles. First of all it is not a live action, nor is it an animation. So stop motion has a lot going for it from the experience point of view. Of course Selick is THE master of stop motion.

Secondly, the character development is captivating! Obviously Selick had a great canvas from which to work from Neil Gaiman's award winning novel. From the thick accented gentleman renting above Coraline to the two rotund ladies below - entertainment was first and foremost. You could almost taste the wonderful roast chicken Coraline's "other mother" was preparing. In fact, I am kinda hungry right now.

I don't like to give much away during my reviews so I am purposely avoiding details - yet want to give you a taste for your dollar before you go. Absolutely, this movie does NOT disappoint. Gaiman fans will adore the transition to the screen because it is ARTFULLY done. Articulate care given to beloved characters - how can you ask more than that?

It is simply a wonderful, well told, wicked adventure that I can sincerely recommend. While their are some adult themes, I believe it is perfectly fine for children of say 12 and up - perhaps even younger.

Adults will love the movie as well. Of course the imagery and 3D are spectacular - CORALINE is a groundbreaking movie. The only 'comin' at ya' moments are used sparingly and with purpose. The 3D is creatively used for immersion - stunning!

One thing I can easily vouch for - you WILL become immersed in this movie. It is wondeful to see a movie that could easily be a dreamstate for so many - and become a part of it. Well done Mr. Selick.

Friday, February 06, 2009

I thought these figures look remarkably similar to the real deal in tonight's opening of CORALINE. So in the interest of celebrating the moment, I present to you three bendable CORALINE figures... Make your own stop motion movie!

The figures are available at Entertainment Earth for $42.49. They also have a larger set of CORALINE characters available here.

I have always wanted to make a stop motion movie - it is such a cool genre. Enjoy the movie this weekend!

Hey guys - Jim here. MarketSaw has an avid reader from France, Ludovic Celle - and he has sent in a photo scan of Cameron and a 3D camera from the DGA article that Michael posted about here. Don't know why we missed it - probably because it was mixed in with other stock pics from his library that I have seen many times. Anyway - here it is for you, and it was referenced as being from AVATAR.

Ludovic also goes on though to speculate about that high resolution set image that we obtained hides an interesting secret. Interesting enough that I thought I would throw it at you for your comments. I have heard some rather extensive hyposis about what could be in this picture (I blew it up from a large screen monitor that was on the sidelines of the volume). We won't know for sure though until the movie, maybe never.

He thinks that because there are horses in the scene, there must be some sort of mount on the monitor being modified to be alien in real time. I thought the same thing actually but for the life of me could not pick out a shape of a mount / rider. Well Ludovic did - at least it seems possible. What do you think? I actually see with the help of his outline - a flying creature with wings.

Jim here. I saw this today and was utterly amazed that this technology is actually sitting in thousands of homes right now. The guy who came up with this idea is Johnny Lee, a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University. He has taken a standard Nintendo Wii system and reversed the role of the Wii controller and its infrared bar! By doing this he has created a virtual reality type system (for only one viewer unfortunately) and has created a 3D effect through the use of motion.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Steven Spielberg and Weta are looking for applicants who know Motion Builder for the motion capture based movie TINTIN:

Weta Digital is looking for LA-based artists with experience in Motion Builder for a limited period shoot (Tintin). Immediate start. Applicants should be technically competent and comfortable working within a team that is processing a high-volume of data(that's an understatement!).

The position involves:Integrating post-processed motion capture data and into virtual environments.Developing motion-montages for virtual camera work (Experience using the Story tool is a plus)Generating and checking rendered media.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Michael here. The first 3D Entertainment Summit was a resounding success, and brought such speakers as James Cameron and Jeffrey Katzenberg among many other notables in the stereoscopic 3D field.

The details for the 2009 Summit have just been released. See the press release below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3D Entertainment Summit Announces 2009 Show Dates September 16-17th at Universal City Hilton, Universal City California

Two-Day Conference Will Focus on the Business of 3D

MILFORD, CT, February 2, 2009, -- Unicomm LLC, and Bob Dowling, Former Editor in Chief and Publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, announced today the date and location for the second annual 3D Entertainment SummitTM will be September 16-17, 2009 at the Universal City Hilton in Universal City, California.

The 2009 3D Entertainment Summit will accommodate more attendees as it moves to a larger space designated for keynotes and panel discussions, film presentations and larger exhibitor area. In addition, the two-day summit will include a state-of-the-art 3D digital cinema system for special 3D studio sneak previews and full feature presentations.

“The 2008 3D Entertainment Summit was a tremendous success and we are forecasting an increase in attendees for 2009 as the 3D industry continues to grow at a steady pace,” said Bob Dowling. “With a large number of 3D films scheduled for 2009, the first ever 3D commercial that ran this past weekend and an episode of NBC’s ‘Chuck’ slated to run tonight, 3D has truly gone mainstream. When we meet again in September, we’ll review predictions made at last year’s show and discuss new 3D milestones and trend predictions for 2010.”

The 3D Entertainment Summit contains a mix of general sessions and panel sessions presented by a host of industry experts and executives. The highly interactive, discussion-driven environment will allow entertainment professionals to gain practical insight into 3D technology, market size, adoption rates, creative and production strategies, talent and licensing issues gaining a better sense of how 3D relates to their future.

The 2008 show featured more than more than 400 leading members of the 3D industry ecosystem and press from U.S., Canada, France, United Kingdom and Japan, with presenters including keynotes from Jeffrey Katzenberg, Mark Zoradi, Eric Brevig and Charlotte Huggins, David Hill, James Cameron and Vince Pace as well as exclusive studio presentations and rare 3D film sneak previews. The Summit also included more than 30 corporate and media sponsors including RealD, 3ality, Avid, Dolby, Sony, IMAX, PACE, NEC, Virtual Images, Panasonic, Variety and The Los Angeles Times.

For more information about speaking submissions, exhibiting, and sponsor opportunities, visit www.3d-summit.com.

Hey guys- Jim here. Dreamworks Animation recently released some more MONSTERS VS. ALIENS promo material and yours truly got the goods for you. One of readers actually alerted me to them! Ahhh... I forget who just this minute - you can remind me in the comments section please!

Anyway - I think these images are starting to plant the seeds of deeper interest in many people as they are getting into more and more of the action sequences and I have to say - they look very interesting!

The talent in the movie is outstanding of course with Rogen, Witherspoon, Arnett, Sutherland etc but with this movie it is going to come down to story. Can Dreamworks pull off another KUNG FU PANDA?

What if KUNG FU PANDA was made in 3D (almost was apparently, but didn't quite make the 2D-3D cutoff schedule)? Think of all the extra revenue that DWA would have enjoyed because of the 3D premium. Wow.

I don't know about you, but when I go see a 3D movie, I see it at least twice if not three of four times. Sure I run a 3D movie blog, but dang it if I don't discover something new and exciting with every trip. KUNG FU PANDA would have been awesome in 3D. And of course it's sequel definitely will be so I am pumped about that.

There is a lot of opportunity in MONSTERS VS. ALIENS to really making a 3D killing - for example the city destruction scenes with Ginormica and the Golden Gate Bridge scene with huge honking insect. What is that - some sort of ray beam coming out of that alien's (ship?) eye?

Whatever it is, I truly think DWA is going to be making a statement with this movie. I know a lot of you a Pixar fans (for good reason!) but if you will notice a strange thing happening this year - KUNG FU PANDA is winning awards while WALL-E is, ummm... maybe not. So while I am looking forward to Pixar's 3D UP this year, I have MvsA ranked higher in my must see list. Dreamworks Animation has come a long way in the past couple years and I think will be giving Pixar a run for the money in the near future.

But HEY! We are all one big happy stereoscopic family right? I mean Disney Animation, Dreamworks Animation and Pixar have all stated that from now on, only 3D CGI movies will be coming from their studios. So we all win.

So what do you think? Does Dreamworks Animation have the goods again as it did with KUNG FU PANDA? I am betting they do.